This past year saw significant change at the Federal
Trade Commission, as Andrew Ferguson was appointed chairman by
President Donald Trump, replacing Lina Khan, who served as chair
during the Biden administration.
Although Chairman Ferguson's tenure began quietly, the year
ended with an uptick in FTC enforcement activity. Agency leaders
stressed that they have moved away from novel theories under
Section 5 of the FTC Act in favor of more established theories
under statutes like the Children's Online Privacy Protection
Act (COPPA). Despite shifting priorities and approach, the agency
has remained active in youth privacy and online safety, AI, and
data security. This post highlights key federal privacy enforcement
developments in 2025 and expected trends for 2026.
